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Just 27 Games That College Students Love

Because sometimes you just need a break from studying…and by break, we mean four hours of competitive chaos.

Posted on Sep 1, 2025 UTC

by Ashley SchumacherBuzzFeed Contributor

I am a contributor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for over two years with an emphasis on home goods, parenting items and toys, beauty products, and anything that can make your day-to-day life run a little smoother.

Board game titled "Command of Nature" shown with its colorful rule book and game components, including cards and tokens

2. A Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza game so game night can finally have valid hand slaps. (They're built into the game, y'all.)

A card game spread out with playful animal illustrations and the words:

Amazon, www.amazon.com

As soon as there is a match between a card and a spoken word, race against each other to slap your hand on the central pile of cards. The last one to do so must take them all. Be quick to be the first to get rid of all your cards. But watch out! Your mind will play tricks on you.

Promising review: "This game is more mind-bending than you think. Don’t let the cuteness fool you. This game is by far the most competitive and fun party game to play with friends!! The special cards mess with your mind!

"Pros: hours of fun, cute drawing style, unique packaging, easy to play

"Cons: may result in red hands, strain of voice from intense playing" —Hani

Get it from Amazon for $9.84.

Bag containing a BucketGolf set with collapsible targets and colorful golf balls on grass

Person practicing golf swing on grass with golf equipment around. Houses and trees in the background

A person is arranging cards on a table for a golf-themed card game, showing various numbered cards and game elements

Three wooden bingo boards with college themes and team logos, each containing small blocks for playing

6. An Azul board game, so you can imagine yourself in a colorful world of tile laying on a palace wall. Easy to learn but challenging to master, this makes a great entry point for both pro gamers and newbies, perfect for the next post-study session game night.

a model placing printed tiles on a game board

Amazon

Promising review: "This is such a great game for both board game fanatics and non-gamers. It's easy to teach, simple to set up, plays in under an hour, and it's FUN! Azul is an abstract tile placement game that features drafting, set collecting, and pattern building. It's pleasing to look at, and the components are well-made. The tiles feel especially nice. This is one of those games that everyone we've introduced it to loves and wants to play again right away. It hits the table quite a bit." —Shelly

Get it from Amazon for $34.97.

People playing a beach game, energetically hitting a ball towards a small yellow and black net on the sand, with palm trees in the background

Board game setup on a wooden table, featuring colorful character cards, pieces, and a detailed game board with fantasy artwork

Dice Forge board game components, including character boards and dice, set up for gameplay on a wooden surface

Stacks of illustrated cards with various word cards laid out on a table, suggesting a word or memory game setup

Person plays Honey Buzz board game, featuring cards and colorful tokens on a wooden table with drinks nearby

Person holding an LED-lit flying disc labeled "Tosy RGB" outdoors, emphasizing 16 million colors feature

Person smiling, wearing glasses and holding a round disc with colorful lights, creating a futuristic look. Suitable for tech gadget shopping articles

Hand holding toy pirate ship over a board game that resembles a map with islands

Two people playing a strategic board game involving ships and islands, with hands pointing and moving game pieces on the board

Two people sit at a table playing a card game and laughing. One holds up a card, and drinks are on the table

Game sketches attempt to illustrate "hot," featuring stick figures, flames, and the words "smoke" and "volcano."

Five people enjoying a tabletop game at a dining table with snacks and drinks, adding a casual, cozy feel for social shopping themes

Beach game with wooden discs and a pyramid target on the sand, with the ocean and distant figures in the background

Board game "Wingspan" box with bird illustration on table; colorful egg pieces are displayed in front of it

Board game setup with cards, dice, tokens, and score sheets on a round table. A hand reaches over, adjusting items

Board game layout on a wooden table, showing various cards, tokens, and game pieces organized for play

Person playing KanJam outdoors, preparing to toss a disc toward the target, while another person watches in a casual setting with trees and a camper nearby

Two people playing an outdoor game in a grassy field, focusing on agility and coordination

A hand holding "Pride and Prejudice"-themed playing cards featuring illustrations and descriptions of characters like Elizabeth and Jane Bennet

Board game titled "Marrying Mr. Darcy" with various character and event cards spread around the box

A Jenga Giant carrying bag on a playground surface, suggesting outdoor playability for shopping context

Person in a hoodie playing with a large wooden Jenga tower outdoors on a table

Four people smiling and playing with novelty toys in a casual indoor setting, surrounded by colorful wall art

Person in a casual setting clapping over a table game setup in a lively room with others smiling and clapping in the background

Card game "Yo Sabo" presented with open and closed boxes, a card asking for the Spanish word for "tablecloth" with answer "mantel."

Card game "Horrible Therapist" displayed with cards labeled Question, Treatment, and Answer, on a patterned blanket

Person behind a bar counter with a deck of cards and a board of colorful notes in the background. A glass of beer is in the foreground

Four pickleball paddles with hexagonal patterns and wrapped handles, resting near four yellow pickleball balls

A person holds a honeycomb-pattern pickleball paddle on an outdoor court, with two pickleballs on the ground near the net

A hand holds green train pieces over a board game box and components for a game of Ticket to Ride

People playing a board game with a map and colorful track pieces on a table, focusing on planning strategies

Board game "One Night Ultimate Werewolf" with character cards displayed next to an open game box on a quilted surface

Box of the game "Herd Mentality." Features cow graphics and text: "Moosic & Moovies. Whatever you do, don't stand out." Includes cow figurine

Board game components with cards that prompt players to name a David Bowie song, rewrite a lyric, and name a movie featuring an alien

Just 27 Games That College Students Love

1. A Command of Nature deck-building game for two or four players that you know you'll be scrambling for on a cold night when nothing sounds better than staying in and chillin' in your dorm with your blanket and a pal or three.

2. A Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza game so game night can finally have valid hand slaps. (They're built into the game, y'all.)

3. A Bucketgolf portable nine-hole course to ensure that even if the course is closed, you and your friends can set up shop just about anywhere. Design your own course and tee up in minutes, just be ready to get a lot of, "Hey, can we join?" questions from passersby.

4. And a Play Nine card game of golf that is just like real golf in that the lowest score wins. There's a bit of strategy, a bit of luck-of-the-draw, and a whole lotta fun.

5. A college football game day bingo you'll love to play and display. (When it's not a Saturday and in use, of course.)

6. An Azul board game, so you can imagine yourself in a colorful world of tile laying on a palace wall. Easy to learn but challenging to master, this makes a great entry point for both pro gamers and newbies, perfect for the next post-study session game night.

7. A Spikeball outdoor game: Basically what would happen if volleyball and four square had a baby, and that baby went to college and became the party starter for all outdoor hangouts.

9. A Smug Owls riddle game for when you want to flex your brainpower and your trash-talk skills at the same time. Flip cards to create a riddle and then come up with answers to gain points. (And gloating rights when you beat the English major of the group!)

10. A Harmonies game as pretty to look as it is fun to play. Play with up to four players as you design your dream worlds (full of animals and gorgeous landscapes) and try to rack up the most points to win!

11. A light-up flying disk because the best part of college is you can stay up way past your bedtime playing and no one is going to call you inside. Rechargeable, waterproof, and the light comes on ~automatically~, so basically this is your new after-dark bff.

12. A swashbuckling Plunder game if your fave part of world history is the pirate bit. Lead your fleet, conquer islands to gain resources, and get ready to gloat to your mateys about all the booty you're gonna win.

13. A Telestrations doodle telephone game as chaotic as your friend group dynamics. Get ready to humble the artsy ones in the group with your ~stellar~ rendering of a giraffe and to laugh yourselves silly at the hilarious results of this telephone-illustrated game.

14. A classic Catan game you'll love for its easy gameplay, its creative ever-changing board design, and the way absolute mayhem can ensue when you try to barter resources across the table.

15. A Rollors wooden yard game that combines horseshoes, bocce ball, and bowling to make the most perfect way to spend an afternoon on the green.

16. A relaxing Wingspan strategy board game for bringing the wonders of birdwatching (and birdwatching competition) to your game table. Collect eggs and cards to score points and get ready to crush the competition, but in a chill, cozy way.

17. And a Wyrmspan dragon-esque version that's a slightly different game, but same cozy-competitive vibes, and with dragons. Perfect for suckering your romance-obsessed friend into putting down their latest read for a quick game night outing.

18. A Kan Jam toss, the flying disc competition you didn't know you and your friend group needed, but here it is! And it's packable, so you don't have chunky equipment taking up space in the corner of your dorm room.

19. A Marrying Mr. Darcy board game because whether you're taking Brit Lit this semester or not, everyone is going to want to play through the courtship and proposal phases to see if they can catch a famous Jane Austen suitor.

20. A gigantic Jenga game (with a zippered bag!) perfect for any and all indoor/outdoor activities where you need just a smidge of tumbling mayhem thrown in the mix.

21. A silly and chaotic Chicken vs Hotdog flip-'em and stick-em game that's basically a way to compete in the olympics of nonsense. Turn over a card and race to flip your character into the air. Be the first to stick the landing, and the point is yours!

22. A Yo Sabo bilingual card game if you want to level up your Spanish, one hilarious challenge at a time. (Basically count as studying for your Spanish exam, tbh.)

23. A Horrible Therapist game (the extra horrible edition) from the creators of Exploding Kittens. Be forewarned that nearly every review says it is very inappropriate, but also hilarious if that's your friend group vibe.

24. A pickleball set to get you and a friend (or three friends) pickleball-court-ready in no time! Looking for some fun exercise to break up your schedule? Look no further than whacking some balls together and join the pickleball craze!

25. A Ticket to Ride train adventure for days when you'd rather hop a train and go anywhere other than the library to study. Compete with players to be the one with the longest road, the most completed tickets, and the official Train Conductor of Game Night (TM). (Choo, choo, y'all.)

26. A Werewolf bluffing game because everyone wants to show off their excellent lying skills in a safe (and competitive) space. If you've ever played Mafia and wanted the same vibes but a little more organized, you're gonna love this twisty team game.

27. And finally, a Herd Mentality Moovies and Moosic edition so everyone can win cow points by filling in answers and being in the Moo-jority of top responses.

You and all your friends approximately two minutes into the semester:

1. A Command of Nature deck-building game for two or four players that you know you'll be scrambling for on a cold night when nothing sounds better than staying in and chillin' in your dorm with your blanket and a pal or three.

2. A Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza game so game night can finally have valid hand slaps. (They're built into the game, y'all.)

3. A Bucketgolf portable nine-hole course to ensure that even if the course is closed, you and your friends can set up shop just about anywhere. Design your own course and tee up in minutes, just be ready to get a lot of, "Hey, can we join?" questions from passersby.

4. And a Play Nine card game of golf that is just like real golf in that the lowest score wins. There's a bit of strategy, a bit of luck-of-the-draw, and a whole lotta fun.

5. A college football game day bingo you'll love to play *and* display. (When it's not a Saturday and in use, of course.)

6. An Azul board game, so you can imagine yourself in a colorful world of tile laying on a palace wall. Easy to learn but challenging to master, this makes a great entry point for both pro gamers and newbies, perfect for the next post-study session game night.

7. A Spikeball outdoor game: Basically what would happen if volleyball and four square had a baby, and that baby went to college and became the party starter for all outdoor hangouts.

9. A Smug Owls riddle game for when you want to flex your brainpower and your trash-talk skills at the same time. Flip cards to create a riddle and then come up with answers to gain points. (And gloating rights when you beat the English major of the group!)

10. A Harmonies game as pretty to look as it is fun to play. Play with up to four players as you design your dream worlds (full of animals and gorgeous landscapes) and try to rack up the most points to win!

11. A light-up flying disk because the best part of college is you can stay up way past your bedtime playing and no one is going to call you inside. Rechargeable, waterproof, and the light comes on ~automatically~, so basically this is your new after-dark bff.

12. A swashbuckling Plunder game if your fave part of world history is the pirate bit. Lead your fleet, conquer islands to gain resources, and get ready to gloat to your mateys about all the booty you're gonna win.

13. A Telestrations doodle telephone game as chaotic as your friend group dynamics. Get ready to humble the artsy ones in the group with your ~stellar~ rendering of a giraffe and to laugh yourselves silly at the hilarious results of this telephone-illustrated game.

14. A classic Catan game you'll love for its easy gameplay, its creative ever-changing board design, and the way absolute mayhem can ensue when you try to barter resources across the table.

15. A Rollors wooden yard game that combines horseshoes, bocce ball, and bowling to make the most perfect way to spend an afternoon on the green.

16. A relaxing Wingspan strategy board game for bringing the wonders of birdwatching (and birdwatching competition) to your game table. Collect eggs and cards to score points and get ready to crush the competition, but in a chill, cozy way.

17. And a Wyrmspan dragon-esque version that's a slightly different game, but same cozy-competitive vibes, and with dragons. Perfect for suckering your romance-obsessed friend into putting down their latest read for a quick game night outing.

18. A Kan Jam toss, the flying disc competition you didn't know you and your friend group needed, but here it is! And it's packable, so you don't have chunky equipment taking up space in the corner of your dorm room.

19. A Marrying Mr. Darcy board game because whether you're taking Brit Lit this semester or not, everyone is going to want to play through the courtship and proposal phases to see if they can catch a famous Jane Austen suitor.

20. A gigantic Jenga game (with a zippered bag!) perfect for any and all indoor/outdoor activities where you need just a *smidge* of tumbling mayhem thrown in the mix.

21. A silly and chaotic Chicken vs Hotdog flip-'em and stick-em game that's basically a way to compete in the olympics of nonsense. Turn over a card and race to flip your character into the air. Be the first to stick the landing, and the point is yours!

22. A Yo Sabo bilingual card game if you want to level up your Spanish, one hilarious challenge at a time. (Basically count as studying for your Spanish exam, tbh.)

23. A Horrible Therapist game (the extra horrible edition) from the creators of Exploding Kittens. Be forewarned that nearly every review says it is *very* inappropriate, but also hilarious if that's your friend group vibe.

24. A pickleball set to get you and a friend (or three friends) pickleball-court-ready in no time! Looking for some fun exercise to break up your schedule? Look no further than whacking some balls together and join the pickleball craze!

25. A Ticket to Ride train adventure for days when you'd rather hop a train and go anywhere other than the library to study. Compete with players to be the one with the longest road, the most completed tickets, and the official Train Conductor of Game Night (TM). (Choo, choo, y'all.)

26. A Werewolf bluffing game because everyone wants to show off their excellent lying skills in a safe (and competitive) space. If you've ever played Mafia and wanted the same vibes but a little more organized, you're gonna love this twisty team game.

27. And finally, a Herd Mentality Moovies and Moosic edition so everyone can win cow points by filling in answers and being in the Moo-jority of top responses.

You and all your friends approximately two minutes into the semester:

5. A college football game day bingo you'll love to play and display. (When it's not a Saturday and in use, of course.)

20. A gigantic Jenga game (with a zippered bag!) perfect for any and all indoor/outdoor activities where you need just a smidge of tumbling mayhem thrown in the mix.

23. A Horrible Therapist game (the extra horrible edition) from the creators of Exploding Kittens. Be forewarned that nearly every review says it is very inappropriate, but also hilarious if that's your friend group vibe.